So I’m sliding in right at the end of the month to do the Beautiful People: Siblings Edition tag. Today on the blog, we have Elliot Sharpe and Mileya Blanchard from my manuscript, Sketchy Moments. Or Low Expectations. not sure yet.

Sort of Chibi Mileya

Um... my own style for Elliot?

Please ignore the fact that their heads are floating. I only have the patience for headshots.

Anyway.

Summary:

After the most humiliating incident of his life, Elliot “Andreas” Sharpe moves to a new foster home. Armed only with a sketchbook, a locket, and three scars down his face, Elliot sees his new fosters as little more than a timely break: he’ll hunker down with them for a couple weeks while he waits for the drama at his former Home to die. Then the new fosters are welcome to send him back to the Anderson, and they can all go about their merry way.

But then life, and a little girl named Mileya, conspire to convince him that even the lowest of expectations can’t protect you from reality.

As explained in the summary, they’re a lot different than most siblings because Mileya is Elliot’s foster sister, the daughter of his foster parents. But when I sawthis tag, I knew it would be perfect for them and, besides that, so much fun to do. So here it is!

1. What is the first memory they have of each other?

Well, since they’re foster siblings, their first memory is their first meeting: when Elliot was fourteen and Mileya was six, her parents decided to foster Elliot. He’d actually known her parents for a few weeks, but he and Mileya met at the Anderson Home for Adolescents, where Elliot had lived for the past two years, just before the Blanchards took him home for the first time.

2. Describe their relationship in 3 words.

I decided to have them each use one word, and then describe their relationship from my point of view. So...

Mileya would describe it as “fun” because she’s six, everything good is fun, and Elliot, to her, is good. She loved Elliot from the minute she laid eyes on him and decided that, for as long as he stayed with her family, he would be her big brother. Big brother, in her mind, equaled spending lots of time together and having fun.

Elliot would probably say “temporary.” Like Mileya, he understands that they might not be together forever, but the difference is that’s the only thing he sees. To him, she’s a sweet kid and all, but the relationship won’t last long enough to be given a true name. So it’s just “temporary.”

As a whole, I’d say their relationship is “bittersweet.” Because, even as young as Mileya is, they both understand the implications of being a foster kid. However, she’s willing to make the best of it, and Elliot’s not. E sees the bitter; M sees the sweet.

3. What kind of things do they like to do together?

In the beginning, Elliot would prefer to not do much with her at all. But Mileya does convince him to play dolls a few times. He doesn’t enjoy that, though, so it might not count...

Oh, they both like art! And Mileya adores Elliot’s drawings. She secretly wants to draw just like him someday.

4. What was their biggest fight?

They’ve actually never fought, but only because Elliot tends to bend to her desires; he doesn’t want to rock the boat and thus have her parents get rid of him sooner than he’s ready to return.

5. How far would they go to save each other?

Mileya’s little, so it would be hard for her to wrap her mind around that concept. Since Elliot’s out of foster care right now and living with her family, I don’t think she could actually understand that he would need saving from anything.

Elliot though, once he decides to care about someone, has a remarkable, almost sacrificial loyalty. So he would give up almost anything to save Mileya: his locket, his drawings, he’d even go back to foster care to save her. I think the only thing he might balk at would be his life. Then again, he doesn’t actually value that that much, so he might just be like “Here, take it!”

6. What are their pet peeves about each other?

Mileya wishes Elliot wouldn’t hide from her so much, and that he’d play with her more. That he would love being with her the same way she loves being with him.

Elliot wishes Mileya wouldn’t bother him so much; he likes her and all, but eventually, he needs time to recuperate from her bouncy personality.

7. What are their favorite things about each other?

Elliot loves Mileya’s innocence and genuineness. She’s a little kid, so she’s adorably honest, and he never has to wonder what she’s thinking. When he’s always second-guessing himself and everyone around him, constant honesty is a nice trait for someone to have.

I’m not sure there’s a specific thing Mileya loves about Elliot. She just loves him in general because, at least for now, he’s her big brother. For her, that’s enough.

I’m not sure two siblings could be more different: they share no quirks or mannerisms, their looks are almost entirely different (though skin color is similar), and Mileya likes pink, frilly, girly clothes, while Elliot’s go-to outfit is a pair of baggy jeans and a black Bane t-shirt that says something about being molded in the dark.

Yeah. My bae’s a wee bit emo.

9. Who has the strongest personality?

Mileya. Undoubtedly Mileya. Though Elliot’s does contain a bit of a quiet strength.

10. How does their relationship change throughout your story?

Well, that would be telling wouldn’t it? ;)

Suffice it to say, Mileya doesn’t change much. At least not intentionally. She does, however, manage to draw Elliot to the Light Side of the Force, but she doesn’t really know it because Elliot likes to keep his feels inside.

***

I don’t know about you, but I found that really fun! Through this tag, I actually discovered a lot about their relationship, so thanks to Cait and Skye for coming up with this! Do you, my readers, have siblings in your stories? What’s their relationship like?

Or, if you don’t write, what’s your favorite set of fictional siblings? There are too many amazing ones to choose from, but I’m gonna say Sam and Dean, Katniss and Prim, Nico and Hazel, Mason and Omar.... Okay, I’m just gonna stop now. Like I said, too many amazing ones. :D

Oh, one more thing, and then I promise I’ll shut up: my co-writer Rebecca is going to post this tag on her blogsometime next week (I know the linkup will technically be over, but *shrugs* we really don’t care). She’s gonna talk about Cecil and Vil, our MCs fromBecoming Brave, so be on the lookout for that!

Okay, beautiful people, I’m done. Comment away!

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9 comments:

Aww...they sound so sweet. I love the contrast between the two. And your drawings of them are great! My favorite fictional siblings would be the Pevensies from Narnia, and the Penderwicks. And maybe Carter and Sadie, from the Kane Chronicles.

So, as if I didn't find myself drawn in enough by the word "foster," you had to go ahead and write an excerpt like that. XD Thanks a lot for making me want to buy a book that hasn't been published yet(...has it? o_O).

Anyway, I am EXTREMELY intrigued by Elliot and Mileya! I love how there personalities are so different, but her relentless love for him eventually pulls him out of that shell. It's just so beautiful. :')

Oh! And my favorite line had to be: "E sees the bitter; M sees the sweet." It's just such a lovely way of explaining it and I adore these characters and I should be asleep right now but no I'm awake and fangirling over a book I've never read.

So, with all that said, keep up the great work! Your writing is excellent and your drawings are as well! ^____^

Oh my goodness, thank you so much!!! :D I'm so glad you like them! And is it bad that I'm kinda happy you were up late fangirling? lolNo, it hasn't been published yet. But I'm looking to query eventually, so hopefully, sometime soon!

Aw, these siblings sound really cute! It sounds like Elliot has a lot to learn from that bouncy six-year-old. :) I think my favorite fictional siblings are Simon and River Tam, because they are beautiful in all the ways. :)

(I don't think the comment posted so I'm writing it again - why does technology hate me? *sobs*) ANYWAY, the chibi is so cute and I love how you did the hair on Elliot. Also, I've always wanted an older brother so this little peak into your story struck a chord, it sounds so adorable and amazing, best of luck with the writing/publishing process! :D

Hiya!

Alexandria, better known as Alex or Alexa, is a strange Christian-fangirl-YA-writer medley tucked away in an undisclosed location in Virginia. She loves creating worlds out of keystrokes, discovering adorable ships (platonic or romantic), and becoming besties with clever characters who wow her with smarts and sass.